gear problems

[sah27513]

Hi I am new to this forum and I figured I would go ahead and start with a question, hope someone can help.

I have recently purchased a 2007 ninja 250r with about 19k miles on it. I realize that is a lot of miles but I got the bike for a good price and I am only trying to get it to run until I finish college in a few years. The bike was running fine when I bought it, I rode it from baltimore to the tysons corner area without even the slightest of problems. I rode it a few more times after that and again no problems. Then I go to start it the other day and it starts right up as usual and I let it warm up for about 5 or 6 minutes before getting on. Right now its pretty cold about 30 degrees outside so I give it some extra time usually. When I put it into first gear I started easing of the clutch giving it plenty of gas and every time I let out the rpms would instantly go to zero without the engine cutting off and the throttle wold not engage. As long as I didnt fully let out the clutch the bike would never stall, but first gear would never engage. I tried popping the clutch a few times, but that didnt work at first until after a while it started working and ran fine until I got to a stop light and had to sit again for a while. What should I do? It seems like the bike might not be getting the right fuel mixture but I am not sure.

Let me give you a bit of history on the bike because when I bought it the guy sold it to me with a copy of a semi-recent copy of the maintanence work that had been done. It was from about 5000 miles ago, and the carbs had been cleaned, brakes replaced, oil changed, and new spark plugs.

Any input would be helpful thanks

[Old Guy on a '08]

Originally Posted by sah27513

I have recently purchased a 2007 ninja 250r with about 19k miles on it. I realize that is a lot of miles but I got the bike for a good price and I am only trying to get it to run until I finish college in a few years.

Steve, I wouldn't worry alot about the miles... I've got 22k on my clock now and she runs like a top (knock on wood)

Originally Posted by sah27513

The bike was running fine when I bought it, I rode it from baltimore to the tysons corner area

without even the slightest of problems. I rode it a few more times after that and again no problems. Then I go to start it the other day and it starts right up as usual and I let it warm up for about 5 or 6 minutes before getting on. Right now its pretty cold about 30 degrees outside so I give it some extra time usually. When I put it into first gear I started easing of the clutch giving it plenty of gas and every time I let out the rpms would instantly go to zero without the engine cutting off and the throttle wold not engage. As long as I didnt fully let out the clutch the bike would never stall, but first gear would never engage. I tried popping the clutch a few times, but that didnt work at first until after a while it started working and ran fine until I got to a stop light and had to sit again for a while. What should I do? It seems like the bike might not be getting the right fuel mixture but I am not sure.

Let me give you a bit of history on the bike because when I bought it the guy sold it to me with a copy of a semi-recent copy of the maintanence work that had been done. It was from about 5000 miles ago, and the carbs had been cleaned, brakes replaced, oil changed, and new spark plugs.

Any input would be helpful thanks

I've not tried riding in the 30deg range cold. If there was a real heavy weight oil in the bike it might be a problem but the tranny and engine use the same oil, so as the engine warms so should the oil and then the transmission... so IDK I'm leaving this on to the more experienced bike mechanic type.

[Motofool]

Welcome to the site, Steve !!!

Sorry, but your description is a little confusing to me.

Are you removing the choke before the engine stalls?

[sah27513]

Sorry about the confusing post, and yes I am lowering the choke down to about a mid-range because if I dont the bike stalls

[Motofool]

Check these links:

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Warming_up_your_engine

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/What_is..._at_startup%3F

[sah27513]

That site said to use just regular 5w40 synthetic oil I thought you were only supposed to use 10w40 synthetic and only the kind specially made for motorcycles

[Old Guy on a '08]

Definately want to use motorcycle oil... 5w or 10w has to do with vicosity. In colder weather you want one that flow more easily... but 5 or 10w in a synthetic should work fine.

[lgk]

i have rode in 27 deg weather with no issues, on a new bike and stock jets.

try to ride off with the choke ASAP, then turn it off while riding.
should warm up to the point where it needs no choke in two-three blocks.

if the block is still too cold to run then maybe the thermostat is stuck open.

[Old Guy on a '08]

Originally Posted by lgk

try to ride off with the choke ASAP, then turn it off while riding. should warm up to the point where it needs no choke in two-three blocks..

Same here, the longest I let it idle is when I forgot something and have to run back in the house. I can normally turn the choke off by the time I'm pulling out of the neighborhood.

Originally Posted by lgk

if the block is still too cold to run then maybe the thermostat is stuck open..

I think you might have hit on something here... worth checking for sure.

[lgk]

the only quick and somewhat ghetto way to test could be to cover half the radiator with cardboard and ziptie and see if the warmup improves on the temp guage.

[DaBlue1]

What is your idle speed when the engine is fully choked and fully warm?
In D.C. a 20 degree change in temps can alter your idle speed. It may need to be adjusted again from the time you rode it from B-more.

[KJohnson21]

[AlfredoGonzalez]

This may be a bit of a stupid answer... but did you put the kick stand up before you released the clutch in first gear?

There is a sensor on the kick stand that will instantly kill the engine if you put it into gear w/o putting the stand up.

When I started riding I made this mistake a bunch of times and thought my killswitch was turned on, or that I had messed something up...

Turned out to just be the kick stand.

[sah27513]

I will check the kickstand because I do believe that it is a little loose, also just tried the choke thing and only let it get to the point where it idled without any throttle and again tried putting it in gear and it died on me again. So I pulled the gas tank off to check the fuel filter. When I was draining the gas I tried to drain it through the pepcock by placing it in the on poisition and nothing came out, is this normal? also I noticed that there was a plastic reservoir that was bone dry and so I researched it and apparently this bike has not had any coolant for a while, could that be the problem?

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by sah27513

I will check the kickstand because I do believe that it is a little loose.......

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Underst...afety_switches

Originally Posted by sah27513

.......apparently this bike has not had any coolant for a while, could that be the problem?

No.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do_...ling_system%3F

[lgk]

i believe on is still vacuum operated, no fuel drains. i have the prime setting on the new gen maybe reserve function drains.

having no coolant is not good though. could be a leak or worse.
did you open the cap and see if the radiator had fluid?

[Old Guy on a '08]

No fluid in the radiator resevoir would cause this problem but you def need to fix that before you ride it very far. The kick stand would cause the bike to die as soon as you put it in gear not when you were letting the clutch out.

Motofool, thanks for the links and yeah, if the switch was out of adjustment, letting the clutch out might vibrate the switch and cause the prob.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by Old Guy on a '08

The kick stand would cause the bike to die as soon as you put it in gear not when you were letting the clutch out.

Are you sure?

[Old Guy on a '08]

Originally Posted by allanoue

Are you sure?

Yeap, the voice of experience. Done it several times, and I'm not the only one.

Originally Posted by AlfredoGonzalez

This may be a bit of a stupid answer... but did you put the kick stand up before you released the clutch in first gear?

There is a sensor on the kick stand that will instantly kill the engine if you put it into gear w/o putting the stand up.

When I started riding I made this mistake a bunch of times and thought my killswitch was turned on, or that I had messed something up...

Turned out to just be the kick stand.

Mines a newgen and Alfredo's is a pregen so I'd say it's the same for all of them. And it's a pain in the butt too, cause if you stall it you have to get it into neutral to start it.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by Old Guy on a '08

Yeap, the voice of experience. Done it several times, and I'm not the only one.

34 degrees and 32 MPH winds. Now I need to must go for a ride.

[AlfredoGonzalez]

Originally Posted by allanoue

34 degrees and 32 MPH winds. Now I need to must go for a ride.

I can't boast much for Cali being all that cold, but recently it was hitting 34-38 degrees at night and I had to go to work on the freeway. Xp

Doing 80 mph with 36 degree weather can be rather chilly.

I forgot to mention I work graveyards... 11pm ish ->> 5am...

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by Old Guy on a '08

Yeap, the voice of experience. Done it several times, and I'm not the only one.

Check again. I did. burr
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Checkin..._safety_switch

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by AlfredoGonzalez

I can't boast much for Cali being all that cold, but recently it was hitting 34-38 degrees at night and I had to go to work on the freeway. Xp

Doing 80 mph with 36 degree weather can be rather chilly.

I forgot to mention I work graveyards... 11pm ish ->> 5am...

Once upon a time in a century not to far from this one I lived in Long Beach (Belmont Shore) So Alfredo you have no clue. I do remember it flurrying once. Once! And you can lane split.

[AlfredoGonzalez]

Originally Posted by allanoue

Once upon a time in a century not to far from this one I lived in Long Beach (Belmont Shore) So Alfredo you have no clue. I do remember it flurrying once. Once! And you can lane split.

I work across the street from the Long Beach Town Center, lol. Trust me, I have a clue.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by AlfredoGonzalez

I work across the street from the Long Beach Town Center, lol. Trust me, I have a clue.

2 hours to 10,000 feet so I will take you at your word... I guess

[sah27513]

Alright did some work on it, added some antifreeze did an oil change and emptied the gas tank. Filled up with premium fuel and ran it, after it warmed up a bit the bike ran nice and smoothly. I let it cool down and came back to cold start it and again the bike would not engage in first gear. I started messing around with it and found out that if I get the rpms above above 8k or 9k first gear would engage with a bit of minor sputtering and a little bit of jerking, any ideas what the cause of this is?

[lgk]

What was the idle rpm?

[sah27513]

about 2k or less I had to leave a little choke on but maybe a hair of choke not much at all otherwise it died

[AlfredoGonzalez]

Originally Posted by allanoue

2 hours to 10,000 feet so I will take you at your word... I guess

Top of my parents van



Top of my neighbors SUV



Top of my neighbors junker car, with a frozen puddle of water in the roof dent.

Anywho, the point of those pics was as a bit of proof that it is indeed cold. I was smart enough to take my car to work instead of the bike. The windows were all frozen over... lol

It was marked as 37 degrees, but it's definitely colder.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by AlfredoGonzalez

[IMG]
It was marked as 37 degrees, but it's definitely colder.

Yep you almost never get ice over 33. I drove my car this morning also 19 is just to cold to ride 80 mph for 60 miles unless I have not ridden for over a week.

Sorry for jacking Steve

[AlfredoGonzalez]

Originally Posted by allanoue

Yep you almost never get ice over 33. I drove my car this morning also 19 is just to cold to ride 80 mph for 60 miles unless I have not ridden for over a week.

Sorry for jacking Steve

Yeppers... lol.

Well anywho, let's give this post back to the gear issues peoples...

I think we've had our fun... lol

[sah27513]

OK I rode it again today and it was having the same problems. I put it in first gear and start easing off the clutch and the tachometer drops to zero without the engine stalling and the fear does not engage, instead the exhaust makes very loud popping noises. Anybody have any ideas what to do about this?

[DaBlue1]

For your bike to go from running with no problem, idling fine when warm to sputtering @ 8-9k, then popping and stalling, sounds like either your bike is really lean or you may have an airbox obstruction. I'd start by pulling your air filter and spark plugs and check their condition.

Typical Lean Conditions:

- Poor acceleration; the engine feels flat.
- The engine won't respond when the throttle is snapped open, but it picks up speed as the throttle is closed. (A too-large main jet also mimics this symptom.)
- The engine runs hot, knocks, pings and overheats.
- The engine surges or hunts when cruising at part-throttle.
- Popping or spitting through the carb occurs when the throttle is opened. Or popping and spitting occurs through the pipe on deceleration with a closed throttle.
- The engine runs better in warm weather, worse in cool.
- Performance gets worse when the air filter is removed.

You can also check the Troubleshooting Guide to help diagnose any other symptoms you may notice.

[Motofool]

I agree with Blue.

As you check your air filter, oil it as recommended by the service manual.

I would also drain the bowls of the carbs, just in case some water from condensation has found its way down there.

[Jiggles]

lemmeh justah, quell a few o dees moto myths eh?

19k miles on a bike is not a lot. You'll have to trust me on this, at 22 years of age I have lived a full and prosperous life and have gained much knowledge and wisdom over these long years.

You don't need motorcycle specific oil anymore than you need motorcycle specific sponges and soap. You just want to be sure that you avoid energy conserving oil.

You shouldn't spend 5 minutes warming up the bike. It's akin to performing fellatio for half an hour, not only will you be bored out of your mind waiting to go for a ride, but your poor beloved will also be raw and chaffed.

[Snake]

Can't help with your problem but welcome.

[sah27513]

Alright so I have a new plan and that is to take apart the carburetor and clean it out, I think that the mixture screws might be adjusted incorrectly as well. I have never done something like this before so I did a lot of reading up on it, but nothing said how tight to turn the mixture screws nor did it say how to tighten the main jets and the pilot jets, any input would be appreciated in this my first carb cleaning thanks!

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by sah27513

.........but nothing said how tight to turn the mixture screws nor did it say how to tighten the main jets and the pilot jets, any input would be appreciated in this my first carb cleaning thanks!

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do_...n_the_carbs%3F

Mixture screws: 2.5 ~ 3 turns out after softly screwing them all the way in.

Use a good flat screwdriver to tighten the main jets and the pilot jets (brass is soft).

Best results !!!

[sah27513]

Thanks will be taking it apart tomorrow, is it as scary a thing as everyone says? jw

[Dopamine]

I know this sounds really stupid but my mates bike was doing the same thing and if it happens he opens the gas tank closes it and starts it up is fine... Says something about the air pressure in his tank..